Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: John Gibson played for the U.S. NTDP program, splitting his time between the U-17 team and the NTDP team competing in the USHL. In 22 games for the U-17 team, Gibson compiled a 3.76 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. In 18 games in the USHL, Gibson ended up with a 3.69 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage, and a 7-9-0 record. Gibson played for the USA’s gold medal team at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he posted the best goals-against average (1.33) and best save percentage (.957) of the tournament.

2010-11: Gibson played for the U.S. NTDP competing in the USHL, compiling a 2.38 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage, and a 9-4-3 record. Gibson played for the USA’s gold medal squad at the 2011 U-18 World Junior Championship, posting a 2.34 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in 6 games. He was named the Best Goaltender of the tournament. Gibson has committed to the University of Michigan.

2011-12: Gibson had an impressive first training camp with Anaheim and had a strong rookie season in his first OHL season with the Kitchener Rangers. Splitting time with OHL veteran Frank Palazzese during the regular season, he was 21-10 with 1 shutout and had a 2.75 goals against and .928 save percentage. After finishing second in the Midwest Division, Kitchener reached the OHL semifinals with Gibson handling the bulk of the goaltending. He was 8-7 with 1 shutout and 1 loss in overtime in 16 playoff games and had a 2.67 goals against and .938 save percentage. Gibson appeared in one game as a back up to Jack Campbell for Team USA in the 2012 U20 World Junior Championship. He made his lone start against Finland, stopping 23 of 27 shots in a 4-1 loss. The USA finished seventh in the tournament. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Anaheim in March 2012.

2012-13: Gibson had a memorable season as a 19-year–old despite hip and groin injuries that limited him to 27 games during the OHL season. He won a gold medal playing for the USA U20 team at the 2013 World Junior Championship and capped the season winning a bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF World Championship in Sweden. Gibson made his pro hockey debut – appearing in one AHL game with Norfolk following the OHL playoffs: allowing 3 goals on 21 shots in 40 minutes of action with the Admirals. Gibson was 17-9-1 with 1 shutout for Kitchener and had a 2.41 goals against and .928 save percentage. He played in ten OHL playoff games and was 5-5 with 1 shutout; posting a 2.17 goals against and .946 save percentage. Gibson was 5-2 in seven games at the WJC and had a 1.36 goals against and .955 save percentage. He was 3-1 in five games at the World Championship and had a 1.56 goals against and .951 save percentage; stopping 36 of 38 shots in the USA’s 3-2 win over Finland in the bronze medal game.

2013-14: Gibson made his NHL debut on April 7th — recording 18 saves in a 3-0 shutout of Vancouver — and played seven games for the Ducks after being the top goalie for Anaheim AHL affiliate Norfolk. He was 3-0 with a 1.33 goals against and .954 save percentage in three regular season games and played in four NHL playoff games. He was was 2-2 with 1 shutout, posting a 2.70 goals against and .919 save percentage as the Ducks reached the second round. Gibson played in 45 regular season games for Norfolk and was 21-17-4 with five shutouts. He had a 2.34 goals against and .919 save percentage. The Admirals finished third in the East Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Gibson started six playoff games and was 4-2 with one shutout and had a 1.45 goals against and .955 save percentage.

Talent Analysis

Gibson is a mature goalie who displayed physical coordination and mental toughness at a young age. While he is not a dazzling athlete he has shown little if any major weaknesses in his game. Gibson is a complete goaltender and has been the USA's goalie at the junior level and was with Team USA during the Sochi Olympic orientation camp. He has a calm and collected nature in high pressure situations.

Future

Gibson was the opening night starter for the Ducks and was expected to split the goaltending duties with Frederik Andersen in the 2014-15 season. He was 2-2 in four games before suffering a groin injury. With Anaheim signing veteran Ilya Bryzgalov he may spend the rest of the season in the AHL with Norfolk. Long-term, Gibson and Andersen are expected to eventually be the Anaheim goaltending tandem for the foreseeable future.

Photo: Despite his point totals not matching his pace from last season, Nic Kerdiles is one of several AHL players who should be ready to be a difference-maker for the Ducks next season (courtesy of San Diego Gulls Hockey Club)

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While the NHL season has been altogether disappointing for the Anaheim Ducks, fans should take solace in the fact that the AHL team is not having a particularly bad season. They started quite hot, cooled considerably in November but started to come back around in December. With the current way the AHL is structured, with the Pacific playing fewer games, it is hard to get a handle on just how they compare with the rest of the league as of right now. Personnel moves in the organization will also affect the team as the season enters its critical second-half.

Photo: Anaheim Ducks goaltending prospect John Gibson won his first four games of the 2015-16 season playing for the Ducks’ new AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls (courtesy of Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire)

The Hockey’s Future ranking of the Top 50 NHL prospects is a group project that attempts to determine which prospects will go on to have the greatest impact in their NHL careers. This generally means the highest upside in terms of points but – as in the case of some of the defensemen – the overall effect a player like a Duncan Keith can have on a game does not go unnoticed. Read more»

The Anaheim Ducks saw many of its most prominent prospects moving up a level over the offseason. The AHL’s San Diego Gulls are going to be loaded, with potential stars like Brandon Montour, Shea Theodore and Nick Ritchie joining the club for its inaugural season in San Diego. We are also looking at several make or break years at the collegiate level from players like Keaton Thompson, Kevin Roy, and Grant Besse. This makes for some rather interesting storylines heading into the year. While we will not get to all of them in our preview, here are a few of the prospects to look at heading into a huge 2015-16 for the Ducks pipeline and the organization at large.

Photo: Shea Theodore had a standout junior career, but his AHL production helps him remain the Anaheim Ducks’ top prospect (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

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If contenders are built from the goal out, then the league must be a little bit jealous when it comes to the defensive pipeline and the major goaltending prospect the Anaheim Ducks currently hold. It seems like every single year, when everyone would figure the Ducks to go for a forward in the early rounds, they go back to the well and select another highly skilled defenseman.

Photo: Kootenay Ice forward and Buffalo Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart tied for the scoring lead at the 2015 U20 World Junior Championship, posting 11 points in seven games for Team Canada (courtesy of Aaron Bell/CHL Images)

The Spring edition of the Hockey’s Future ranking of the Top 50 NHL prospects concludes with the top 10 prospects.

The top 10 consists of six forwards, two defensemen, and two goaltenders. Five of the players in this top 10 were selected in the 2014 NHL Draft while nine are former first round picks. Read more»